Supplements/Herbs Articles

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A Tufts University study led by Adela Hruby, PhD, MPH, has found that healthy people with the highest magnesium intake were 37% less likely to develop high blood sugar or excess circulating insulin, common precursors to diabetes.
Among people who already had those conditions, those who consumed the most magnesium were 32% less likely to develop diabetes than those consuming the least.
The second association held true even when researchers accounted
for other healthful factors—such as fiber—that often go along with magnesium-rich foods.

A new study shows that the widespread use of artificial sweeteners in drinks and food may cause certain gut bacteria to induce glucose intolerance and metabolic disease, both significant markers for obesity and diabetes.
newsletter_teaser: A new study shows that the widespread use of artificial sweeteners in drinks and food may cause certain gut bacteria to induce glucose intolerance and metabolic disease, both significant markers for obesity and diabetes.

If you regularly take herbals and dietary supplements, it may be time to reevaluate why you take them and what the potential cost to your health could be. New research published in Hepatology (doi: 10.1002/hep.27317),
a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, shows that liver injury caused by herbals and dietary supplements increased from 7% to 20% in a U.S. study group over a 10-year period.

￼A large, population-based study of Midwest adults has shown that use of certain dietary supplements, including fish oil, echinacea and coenzyme Q10, was tied to changes in subjects’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.

Iron deficiency is a potentially serious condition that affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. At the opposite end of the spectrum, iron excess creates health problems for millions more. While most of us have blood iron levels somewhere between these extremes, it’s important to understand the consequences of getting too much or too little iron, says nutrition expert Christie Knudsen, MS. ...

Very often, a primary goal of resistance training programs is hypertrophy. To achieve this, many people lift weights and follow a sound nutrition program. However, some seek to fast-track these traditional methods by using more synthetic means. A recent study published in The American Journal on Addictions (2010; 20, 9–13) stated that 1 in 10 experienced male weightlifters, aged 18–40, uses human growth hormone (HGH). The study included 231 men who participated in an anonymous survey; the study’s focus on performance-enhancing drugs was not disclosed to participants.

Dietary supplementation is widespread, especially among professional and recreational athletes. Have you been thinking about supplementing to enhance your athletic performance? Are you aware of the scientific research and safety concerns regarding some popular performance-enhancing ergogenic aids?

With the steadily rising cost of a college education, who doesn’t want their child to perform optimally in school? Can you help your kids land a full 4-year scholarship by simply giving them a vitamin and mineral tablet each day? According to a recent study, you had better keep funding that college savings account, because there is no magic pill to make kids smarter.